generally refers to verbal symbol use - in contrast to speech which is physical oral expression

The organ of voice production is the

Larynx

Lateral Dominance Tests

general term for tests of eye and hand preference (Annett Questionnaire, Harris Test, Edinburgh, Reitan-Klove

Lead Pipe Rigidity

associated with involuntary movement disorders - steady resistance is felt through the range of movement

Lead Poisoning

Pb is a common neurotoxin present in soil, paint, pipes. Children at higher risk. Damage can result in IQ deficits, behavioral problems, encephalopahty, death.

what is learning?

process of acquiring new information into memory

what is a learning curve?

graph in which a learning index is plotted as a function of trials

Learning Disability

heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by difficulties with reading, math, written expression. Presumed to be due to nervous system dysfunction. Schools often operationally define LD by discrepancy formula. More recent shift to RTI (response to intervention) model.

Leiter International Performance Scale

test of cognitive ability designed for children with hearing or language impairments. Currently at revised edition

Lemniscus

sensory fiber bundle in the medulla and pons relay epicritic (tactile and kinesthetic) info up to the thalamus

Branch off of MCA. Supplies basal ganglia structures: Part of head and body of caudate, globus pallidus, putamen, and the posterior limb of the internal capsule.

Lentiform Nucleus (lenticular)

part of the striatum comprising the putamen and globus pallidus

Leptokurtic

A leptokurtic distribution is symmetrical in shape, similar to a normal distribution, but the center peak is much higher; that is, there is a higher frequency of values near the mean.

Leptomeninges

the pia and arachnoid- the delicate meninges

Leptomeningitis

inflammation of the pia and arachnoid

Lesch-Nyhan Disease

rare metabolic disease - x linked recessive. Normal development until 6-9 months of age when hypo and hypertonia appear, aggression, compulsive self mutilation of the lips, tremor, dysarthria, mental retardation. Death is usually due to renal failure in the first or second decade of life.

Lethargy

drowsy,inactive, indifferent to external stimuli

Letter Blindness

an unproven syndrome in which words could be read normally, even though letters cannot be recognized

Letter Cancellation

general term for tests of attention and hemispatial neglect that require the subject to mark targets in an array.

Letter by Letter Reading

type of acquired alexia in which print to sound conversion is done letter by letter

Letter Number Sequencing

wechsler subtest - patient has to rearrange mixed up letters and numbers in numerical or alphabetical order - measure of working memory

test used to assess hemispatial inattention- patient marks through center of each line - look for placements to the right or left

Fat soluble elements are called

Lipids

Lipoprotein

compound containing both lipids and proteins. High levels of low density lipoproteins (LDL) are associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease and stroke - increased HDL's may reduce such risks